Thanks! That's what I was thinking. There's so many examples of the arrangement being opposite to what the report says, that I suspect it's an error on their part, considering whoever wrote the report never actually saw U-454, they're just presenting it based on what the crew told the interrogators. The report compiler may never have even spoken to the captured crew either.

It would be good to see more photos of U454, but I won't be getting my hopes up.

Interestingly, the report also says the boat had no individual insignia, just the symbol for the 7th Flotilla, no mention of the black wheel over the shield, or the polar bear motif present in that photo. Makes me wonder if she was painted over when she was transferred to the 7th?